US Coast Guard seizes haul of cocaine, captures 2 trafficking suspects in Dominican waters
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The U.S. Coast Guard says it has seized a haul of cocaine and captured two smugglers in waters south of the Dominican Republic.
In a Tuesday statement, the Coast Guard said the crew of the 210-foot (64-meter) cutter Decisive intercepted a go-fast boat with two outboard engines. The crew went after the boat late Friday after a Canadian maritime patrol aircraft detected the vessel speeding toward the Dominican Republic.
When crew searched the speedboat they allegedly found 317 pounds (143 kilograms) of cocaine in six bales.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The two suspects on board were later transferred to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in Puerto Rico. Their nationalities were not disclosed.
According to U.S. officials, an estimated 6 percent of the cocaine bound for the U.S. passes through the Dominican Republic.